South Simcoe Police Marine Unit Kept Busy Over The Weekend

While the schools aren’t yet out, summer boating season is now in full swing with weekends being a busy time on local waters. The South Simcoe Police Marin Unit was kept occupied this past weekend with a number of safety calls out on the areas waterways.

Officers were called to the area of Little Cedar Point around 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, 2018. A vessel struck a rock about 40 feet off the point in strong winds and waves and had no power to return to harbour. Marine Unit officers towed the vessel back to Lefroy Harbour.

On Saturday, June 9, 2018 around 7 p.m., Marine Unit officers were flagged down by a passerby who reported that a boat with four people on board was taking on water about half a kilometre offshore of Innisfil Beach Park.

When officers arrived, they found the hull of the boat was partially submerged. Police hooked up the vessel and towed it back to the owner’s cottage where he could safely remove it from the water.

Around 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2018, Marine Unit officers were dispatched to the south end of Cook’s Bay for a report of a personal watercraft being operated recklessly and by someone who appeared to be under the age of 16.

Upon arrival, officers discovered the operator was a 10-year-old boy. He was escorted to shore and police spoke with the watercraft owner who said he was unaware that a young relative was operating the machine.

The 60-year-old Innisfil man was charged with Allowing Person Under 16 to Operate Watercraft.

Reminder to the public that even though you can obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card at the age of 14, youth under 16 years of age may not operate a personal watercraft under any circumstances.